Efficient synthesis of furfural from xylose over <scp>HCl</scp> catalyst in slug flow microreactors promoted by <scp>NaCl</scp> addition

Efficient synthesis of furfural from xylose over the HCl catalyst in a water-methyl isobutyl ketone biphasic system was achieved slug flow microreactors, using NaCl as promotor which facilitates dehydration and suppresses condensation. An optimized yield 93% obtained 1 M 0.2 with 10 wt% at 180°C within 4 min. A comprehensive kinetic model developed monophasic experiments water by incorporating acidity constants function chloride ion concentration. The coupling extraction, consideration phase volume change temperature partial miscibility, enables to predict results microreactors where mass-transfer limitation eliminated. aqueous containing could be readily recycled reused multiple times without noticeable performance loss.